Cast high stake log bunks



Sept. 10, 1957 .F. w. CHRISWELL CAST HIGH STAKE LOG BUNKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 15, 1953 INVENTOR FREDERICK W CHRISWELL ATTORNEY P 1957 F. w. CHRISWELL 2,805,629

CAST HIGH STAKE LOG BUNKS Filed April 15, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VE N 70/? 3.1-5.5- FREDERICK W. CHRISWELL ATTORNEY United State Patent 2,805,629 CAST HIGH STAKE LOG BUNKS Frederick W. Chriswell, Seattle, Wash., assiguor to Pacific Car and Foundry Company, Renton, Wash.

Application April 15, 1953, Serial No. 348,970

9 Claims. (Cl. 105-160) This invention relates to improvements in high stake log bunks and comprehends an improvement in the prior art whereby a more sturdy and rigid structure is provided.

Heretofore in the prior art, the stake structure and particularly the high type stake structure has been fabricated into the bunk body, the various parts being formed from various steel shapes and welded into position in the side walls of the bunk body. With the load becoming heavier and having in mind the fact that high stakes permit abnormal loading, it has been found in fabricated bunk structures that distortion and rupture may occur and the parts so deformed that operation becomes dithcult after a certain amount ofusage. To overcome this difiiculty the present structure comprehends the use of cast inserts which form the entire supporting structure for mounting the high stakes and the operating mechanism therefor.

It is the object of the present invention therefore to so construct inserts for use in supporting the high type stake that there will be no chance of rupture or distortion of the various parts required in the mounting and operation of the high stakes.

More specifically the invention comprehends the use of cast inserts in which the guiding slots for the chock or pivot pin for the stake, the arcuate guide for the stake, the stops for the stake, and the tripper bar lock mechanism are all mounted as an integral part of the casting and the various guides and structural parts mentioned involve bracing webs which inherently strengthen the cast- Another object of the invention is the use of a cast insert for mounting the stake structure in which the side walls of the casting are constructed for snug engagement with the bunk body so that the walls of the bunk combine with the side walls of the insert structure to maintain the parts rigid under load conditions so that the moving parts are never misaligned in a manner which might prevent failure of operation.

Other objects will more clearly hereinafter appear, by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the bunk assembly with part of the top plate cut back to show the actuating mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section showing the stakes in elevated and in lowered positions;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the assembly with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective showing the stake in lowered position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective of the tripper mechanism;

Fig.7 is anend view of the insert casting;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on line 8-8 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 9 is a transverse section on line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

The bunk shown is of conventional design to include the usual base side walls 1 and 2 which may be in the form of bulb angles or otherwise, bottom or base plate 3 and top plate 4, the latter being of I-beam form with the flanges positioned within the side walls 1 and 2 and projecting above the side walls. The side walls are each provided with openings, one of which is indicated by reference character 6, and the bottom plate 3 normally ends at 7, leaving an opening for discharge of bark, dirt, etc. These openings 6 are for the insertion of a releasing bar, while the opening 7 is to provide a discharge means for dirt, water and other accumulated material which might aifect the tripper mechanism which is directly associated therewith.

The insert is in the form of a casting best shown in Figs. Sand 7, this casting including side walls 8 and 9, these side walls being formed with transversely aligned spaced elongated slots or guideways 16 for the reception of the pivot pins 11 of the bell crank lever 12 which forms a pivotal and sliding support therefor. The top wall 14 of the last insert is medially bifurcated as at 15', the bifurcation being inset at its inner "end 16 and widened at its outer end as at 17. The end portion of each of the side walls of the bunk is provided with supporting faces or shoulders 18 which are inclined slightly downwardly and which terminate at the end of the arcuate guide faces 19, these guide faces defining the path of movement of the elbow portion of the bell crank lever 12. it will be noted that the elongated slots 10, the shoulders 18 and the guide faces 19 are each formed as webbing or integral flanges projecting from the inner face of the side walls of the insert and as in the case of other parts cooperate with the assembly to give strength thereto. The rear portion of the insert is provided with the transverse connector 20 which extends from side wall to side wall of the casting, is relatively heavy and includes an outwardly and upwardly inclined portion 21 having a beveled lower face 22 which forms a stop and a seat for a flat face 23 at the elbow of the bell crank when the latter is in its extreme lower position. The transverse element 20 likewise forms an alternate point of operation for a release bar for the tripper mechanism, inasmuch as it is immediately below the side wall opening 6 through which a tripper bar also may be inserted. It will also be noted that the inner wall 24 of the cross member 20 defines the forward wall of the opening 7.

It will, of course, be understood that while the present description is applied singularly to only one of the inserts and stake assemblies, more than one such structure may be utilized, it being conventional in most instances to provide both ends of a bunk with a stake mechanism as shown. It will also be noted that holes 10 in the main bunk body are aligned with and associated with openings in the insert casting so that access may be had to the parts within the insert through the main bunk structure.

Referring to the bell crank lever 12 which is in the form of a cast bell crank, it will be seen that this structure has its inner arm at its free end pivoted to pivot pin 11, while the outer arm is formed with ears 25 through which the pivot pin 26 extends and supports an auxiliary stake 27, which is provided with a lower weighted end 28 having inclined face 29. The pivot hub of auxiliary stake 27 is extended to fit into a recessed pocket 30 of the bell crank lever 12 so as to absorb the load directly from stake to bell crank, relieving the'pin of shock loads imposed when loading or while the log carrying vehicle is under way. The shank 27 of the auxiliary stake may "be of such dimensions as to fit in the pocket 30 formed in the bottom or outer face of the outer arm of the bell crank. -It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the pivotal support 26 for the auxiliary stake 27 is so positioned that when the auxiliary stake is in its the main and auxiliary stakes are in perfect alignment when the stakes are in their upper or vertical position.

It should also be noted that the lower .part of auxiliary stake 27 is so designed that it will act as a counterweight keeping the stake in ,a vertical position.

Referring to Fig. it will be seen that the chock pin or pivot pin 11 for the bell crank lever 12 extends the full width of the insert and that the ends of the pin 11 travel in the slots during raising and lowering of the high stake structure. bell crank lever 12 is bifurcated to provide ears 35 and the bifurcations have their ends extended to form hub portions 36 (as shown in Figs. 7 and 8) which ride on ledges 37 formed on the insert casting below the slots 10, thereby relieving pin 11 of strain.

The head 4 of tripper bar 41 which is mounted on the chock or pivot pin 11 intermediate the cars 35, extends to the other end of the bunk body and at its free end supports a pair of spaced rollers 50 and 51 (see Fig. 4). The tripper roller pin 52 (see Fig. 2) extends the full width of the insert body and the rollers normally overlie the opening 7 in the base plate of the bunk when the stake is in locked position. The end of the tripper arm is formed with a nose portion 53 which projects in front of the opening 6 in the side wall of the structure so that an actuating lever may be inserted for jacking the end of the tripper bar out of its seat, the seat being formed by wall 24 of the transverse member 54, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The trip lockmechanism includes the lock arm 55 which is carried by the operating arm, 56 (see Fig. 4), so that the tripper bar can be locked when the stake is elevated.

In the operation of the device after the tripper lock has been released and the tripper roller kicked from its seat, the. stake mechanism may be slid forward a distance represented by the transversely aligned slots 10. The length of the travel of pivot pin 11 in slot 10 is sufiicient to free the inclined face 23 from its seat on the in-.

clined shoulders 13 and after the parts are so freed the stake will swing down to its lower position as shown at one end of Fig. 2, and when in its lower position the stake assembly is entirely confined within the dimensions of the bunk and the inclined shoulder 23 has moved to seat on the incline face 22 of the transverse member 29. The adjusting of the stake to its upper operative position is just the reverse. Bell crank lever 12 has on its lower surface a kick-off cam 42. When raising the bell crank lever the. cam 42 will engage end of slot 16 moving bell crank lever 12 outward clear of surface 19 and preventing drag between bell crank lever 12 and surface 19,

It will be understood, of course, that when the stakes are lowered they are subject to loaded conditions and the operation is automatic and the movement of the parts is such that the stake mechanism clears the load.

By the construction shown and described applicant has provided a high stake bunk in which the main structural parts are cast in a manner to provide maximum load supporting characteristics not only in the high. stake structure per se, but also in the insert structure in which the The upper inner pivoted end of slots 10 form the stop means for limiting the movement and travel of the pin 11 in both directions while the rails 37 form the load supporting means through the hub extensions at the bifurcated inner end of the bell crank.

This application is an improvement on applicants prior Serial No. 36,633, filed July 2, 1948, now Patent No. 2,635,556, dated April 21, 1953.

What I claim is:

1. In a bunk assembly, said bunk including spaced sides, and top and bottom walls, cast inserts for arrangement within the ends of the bunk, each of said cast inserts including side walls for abutting relation with the inner faces of the sides-of the bunk, transversely aligned guide slots formed in the inner faces of the side walls of the inserts, said slots being formed in part by inwardly projetting ribs terminating at theirouter ends in downwardly and outwardly extending flat supporting portions, the latter at their outer edge portions merging into inwardly and downwardly arcuate guide faces terminating beneath the bottom faces of the side walls, said inserts having their outer ends bifurcated, a diagonal web structure projecting from the inner face of one of the side walls of the inserts to provide a stake limiting-structure when the stake is in its lower position, and a stake assembly for said bunk of'-bellcrank{form with a flat outer face at its elbow, said stake assembly including a pivot pin arranged for controlling movement in said aligned slots, said stake having a transverse pivot at the free end of one arm for movement in said aligned slots when said stake moves from an upper position in which the other arm is vertical with its elbow resting on said fiat supporting portion to a lower position in which said other arm is substantially horizontal with said elbow seating on said diagonal web structure, and means for locking said stake in its upper position.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that a transverse member extends between the side walls of the bunk body immediately inward and spaced from the diagonal web to provide a seat for receiving the extremity of a tripper bar which is associated with the bellcrank for releasing the same.

3. In a bunk assembly, a bunk including spaced sides, top and bottom walls, an insert assembly for arrangement within one end of the bunk, said insert assembly including side walls for abutting relation with the inner faces of the sides of the bunk, said insert assembly terminating at its outer end in downwardly inclined flat supporting portions, said supporting portions at their outer ends merging into inwardly and downwardly arcuate guide faces, transversely aligned horizontally extending guide means carried by said side walls, a connecting structure positioned between and at the bottom portion of said side walls, said connecting structure having an inclined face defining a seat member, a stake assembly for said insert assembly of bellcrank form, the outer end of the inner arm of the bellcrank stake being pivotally and slidably mounted on said guide means, a pivoted auxiliary stake mounted at the free end of the outer arm of said bellcrank, means for maintaining said auxiliary stake in a vertical position regardless of the position of the bellcrank, said bellcrank being provided at its elbow with a flattened face portion for seating upon the downwardly inclined flat supporting portions of said insert assembly when the outer arm of the stake is in its vertical posi: tion, said elbow being adapted to travel over said arcuate guide faces when said bellcrank is shifted from its vertical position for downward swinging movement to its lower position, and said inclined faces being adapted to engage the inclined face of said connecting member when swung to its lower position.

4. The structure of claim 3 characterized in that means are provided for locking the stake assembly against sliding movement when its flattened faceportion is seating upon the downwardly inclined face supporting portions of the insert assembly.

5. In a bunk assembly, a bunk including spaced sides, top and bottom walls, inserts for arrangement within the ends of the bunk, each of said inserts including side walls for abutting relation with the inner faces of the sides of the bunk, said inserts terminating at their outer ends in downwardly inclined flat supporting portions, said supporting portions at their outer ends merging into inwardly and downwardly arcuate guide faces, transversely aligned horizontally extending guide means carried by said side walls, a connecting structure positioned between and at the bottom portion of said side walls of each insert, said connecting structure having an inclined I face defining a seat member, a stake assembly for each insert of bellcrank form, the outer end of the inner arm of each bellcrank stake being pivotally and slidably mounted on said guide means, pivoted auxiliary stakes mounted at the free ends of the outer arms of said bellcranks, means for maintaining said auxiliary stakes in vertical position regardless of the position of the bellcranks, said bellcranks being provided at their elbows with flattened face portions for seating upon the downwardly inclined flat supporting portions of said inserts when the outer arms of the stakes are in their vertical position, said elbows being adapted to travel over said arcuate guide faces when said bellcranks are shifted from their vertical position for downward swinging movement to their lower position, and said inclined faces being adapted to engage the inclined faces of said connecting members when swung to their lower position.

6. The structure of claim 5 characterized in that tripper bars are connected to the outer end of the inner arm of each bellcrank stake, the tripper bars being positioned in the bunk body and extending longitudinally thereof, the free ends of the tripper bars having means for lockingly engaging portions of the connecting structure of the other insert.

7. The structure of claim 5 characterized in that the tripper bars are connected to each of the pivotally and slidably mounted ends of-the inner arms of the bellcranks, the free ends of the tripper bars being provided with a roller for seating engagement in recesses formed in the connecting structure.

8. The structure of claim 5 characterized in that the connecting structure includes an upstanding element and tripper bars are connected to the pivotally and slidably mounted ends of the inner arms, the tripper bars carrying at their free extremities elements which lockingly engage said upstanding elements when the stakes are in vertical position.

9. In a bunk assembly, a bunk including spaced sides, top and bottom walls, an insert for arrangement within one end of the bunk, said insert including side Walls for abutting relation with the inner faces of the sides of the bunk, said insert terminating at its outer end in downwardly inclined flat supporting portions, said supporting portions at their outer ends merging into inwardly and downwardly arcuate guide faces, transversely aligned horizontally extending guide means carried by said side walls, a connecting structure positioned between and at the bottom portion of said sidewalls, said connecting structure having an inclined face defining a seat member, a stake assembly for said insert of bellcrank form, the outer end of the inner arm of the bellcrank stake being pivotally and slidably mounted on said guide means, said bellcrank being provided at its elbow with a flattened face portion for seating upon the downwardly inclined fiat supporting portions of said insert when the outer arm of the stake is in its vertical position, said elbow being adapted to travel over said arcuate guide faces when said bellcrank is shifted from its vertical position for downward swinging movement to its lower position, and said inclined faces being adapted to engage the inclined face of said connecting member when swung to its lower position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,635,556 Chriswell Apr. 21, 1953 

